Antique machinery engravings

[mikeswrenches]

If you like old machinery, and who among us doesn't, this is an interesting site.

http://www.machineryscans.com

Mike

[turnnut]

that is one that I keep in "favorites"

it is a good site with useful information. you can lose track of time
going into that site, worth it.

[oldtools]

Thank you for sharing!!

[Plyerman]

Man, look at all those flat belt pulleys! Reminds me of what a wonderful invention the electric motor is.

[mikeswrenches]

When you get time, click on "Articles and interesting stuff" and then click on "1908 largest planer ever made".

This is almost unbelievable!

Mike

[turnnut]

flat belts and electric motors went together, back in the 30's,40's & 50's my
grandfathers machine shop where my father worked was using about 2/3's
of the machines were powered by overhead pulleys/belts.  when a belt slipped off,
my father would have to climb upstairs in a crawl space to put the belt back on.

[Plyerman]

....my father would have to climb upstairs in a crawl space to put the belt back on.

I've got a bunch of old photographs at my shop of old-time machines and machinists. The equipment is packed tightly together. Lighting is relatively poor. Jack shafts are running side by side by side the whole length of the ceiling. Flat belts dropping down everywhere. It looks like an OSHA nightmare!


Anyhow, an old fellow told me that shops used to hire young kids to climb around up in the rafters, keeping all the jack shafts lubricated at the bearing blocks. The way they climbed around up there inspired the term "grease monkey". True?

[Branson]

>Anyhow, an old fellow told me that shops used to hire young kids to climb around up in the rafters, keeping all the jack shafts lubricated at the bearing blocks. The way they climbed around up there inspired the term "grease monkey". True?

That's the story I've heard, too.  When line shaft was in its hey day, there were no child labor laws.  During the Civil War, the Ordnance Department hired children for any number of jobs, and they were expected to put in 12 hour days.   So the story might be true.